Re: [tlug] Ubuntu Laptop Assistance Please + Rant about Akihabara

[Raymond Wan <rwan.kyoto@example.com>]

On Thursday, June 14, 2012 10:19 PM, Lyle H Saxon wrote:
> On Fri, Jun 8, 2012 at 1:06 PM, Jawaad
> Mahmood<jawaad.mahmood@example.com>  wrote:
> > It's sad that they have turned Akiba into another
> > generic part of Tokyo.  My wife cleans my ears for
> > free, hence no need to visit anymore, except for HDs at
> > times.
> Speaking of Akihabara - I was talking to someone last
> week who said they went to Akihabara with a young person
> (early twenties) and the young person asked why there
> were so many electronics shops there!  I think that's
> about what it's come to.  Akihabara is for "anime" and
> video games.  The remaining electronics shops are headed


My first time in Akihabara was in the late 90s.  I can't 
remember 'back then' very well, but I think there were fewer 
large electronic stores scattered across Tokyo.  I think 
this was the pre-Bic Camera and pre-Yodobashi Camera days. 
So, Akihabara was the place to go.

Now, you can go to either of these chains throughout the 
Yamanote line and skip Akihabara all together.  I think 
Akihabara just had to change with the times...


> You said you're willing to spend Y150,000.  For that, you 
can get
> *five* squeaky-new laptops via Amazon....  Service form a 
steel&
> concrete store?  R.I.P.


I lived several years in Kyoto and saw a 5+ floor Maruzen 
there become a karaoke [all floors of it!] and, later, a 
Kinokuniya become a video arcade.  With Amazon being able to 
deliver your order to Lawson [1], you don't even have to ask 
a courier to re-deliver your order if you're away from home.

Japanese steel and concrete stores will become karaokes all 
across the country!

Ray

[1]  One nice thing about Japanese convenience stores (IMHO) 
is that they *are* actually convenient!  1.2 liters of soft 
drinks shouldn't be how we define convenient.  :-)